ON HOLD - A Midsummer Night's Deal - Thomas Shelby x OFC - Peaky Blinders

18.

Thomas barely pulled over on the driveway and was already barking orders to Mary, who came in a rush, still confused by the call he made, saying to get ready for their return, that Mrs. Shelby had changed her mind about their honeymoon.

It sounded untrue, because Leonor, even though distant from them, couldn't stop talking about how excited she was to meet New York. She even had asked them to arrange food from the city a few days prior, somewhat worried about Thomas's comment, of how she wouldn't like it.
But she did, and surprisingly liked it better than his food, and that only made her more eager for the upcoming trip.
So to have her walking back into Arrow Manor, with an unsettling expression on her face, her eyes sunk in and her skin dull, when most of the time, she would wear her beauty in the most evident way. Her complexion was clear, her cheeks bright and full of color.
Her shiny raven hair was always combed and made so beautifully, and now was braided to the side, a few strands left loose as Thomas told her to get upstairs.

"What happened, Mr. Shelby?" Mary asked, looking up as Leonor dragged her feet on the steps. "Should I-"

"Yes, run her bath, but not too hot." He replied with inpatient dryness in his voice, tilting his head when he saw Mary still in her spot.

"But Mrs. Shelby preferers her baths, well, hot." Mary chuckled, looking away, missing out on her employer's deep annoyed sigh. "Sometimes hotter than I advise her, Mr. Shelby."

"And now I'm advising you differently. Get on with it, eh?" She nodded, cringing at his harsh response, before rushing upstairs.

Any other family member with a cold, Thomas would've brushed off, he knew how tough their skin was, how they've managed to survive, to work and thrive in the dump that was Small Heath, thanks to it, they've grown resistant to any sickness over the years.
But that was the Shelby's family luck.

And even though she carried the Shelby's name, Leonor didn't share Shelby's blood.

"Oh, Mrs. Shelby, you look awful," Mary commented as the tub was filling up with lukewarm water.
Leonor was resting her head on the doorframe, her arms crossed as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"That's not a proper thing to say to a lady, Mary." She sighed, leaving the bathroom, having spotted Juliet rushing through the hallway. "Oh, how I've missed you."

Juliet was wagging her tail, laying belly up and Leonor crouched down to pick her up.
"What on earth do you have in mind?" Thomas called out, his hand on her shoulder. "Get on that tub, you have a bloody fever, for fuck's sake."

"I'm fine, Thomas," Leonor argued, tugging her shoulder, trying to dodge his grip, to no avail. "Oh for, God's sake, I've survived a cold before."

"Yeah, let's not brag about ourselves, eh?" Thomas mocked, and laced his fingers on her arm, ushering her back to the bathroom as Mary headed out. "It's unladylike."
Leonor laughed at his comment, the cold air hitting her sore throat as she did, leading to a coughing fit.
When she managed to stop, all humor had left his face, only the sternness remained.
"I told you would get sick, I fucking told you."

"Yes, and you also told me we were going to New York." She crossed her arms, stroking her neck. "And that was before this."

"You said you didn't want to go anymore." Thomas scoffed, mimicking her arms crossed. "And that was before your...frantic, fussy dream of yours."

Leonor widened her eyes for a moment, shivering as she remembered in vivid details. His touch was so real, at least it felt like it, cause she still felt the sting on her skin where his hand had laid on, leaving marks behind.

"You know you talk in your sleep, dear wife?" He licked his lips, running the cigarette later on. "But it was less talking and more...well."

"I should bathe." Leonor felt the blood rushing to her cheeks, blushing at the realization that she was probably moaning his name as he drove the car, mere inches away from her, and came crashing down. "Can you tell Mary to make me some peppermint tea?" She removed her shoes, feeling his eyes on her as she did so. "Please?"